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Does the flu shot cover influenza A?
All flu vaccines in the United States are “quadrivalent” vaccines, which means they protect against four different flu viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses.
How effective is the flu shot this year for influenza A?
The average effectiveness at preventing laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza between the 2009-2010 season and 2019-2020 season was about 43%, meaning that people who got the flu vaccine over those years were on average 43% less likely to get sick enough with the flu to go to their doctor and get tested.5 days ago.
What strains of flu does the senior flu shot cover?
This year’s high-dose flu vaccine includes the following strains: Two type A influenza viruses — H1N1 and H3N2. Two type B influenza viruses — Victoria and Yamagata lineages.
Is there a difference between a regular flu shot and a senior flu shot?
Some older adults may have weaker immune systems, which can lead them to be less protected after a regular flu vaccine. In response to a regular flu shot, older people produce 50% to 75% fewer antibodies, which protect against the vaccine antigens, than do younger adults.
How serious is type A influenza?
Type A influenza infection can be serious and cause widespread outbreaks and disease. Common symptoms of type A infection can be confused with other conditions. While in some milder cases the flu can resolve on its own without significant symptoms, severe cases of type A influenza can be life-threatening.
Is influenza A or B more severe?
Influenza type A and type B are similar, but type A is overall more prevalent, sometimes more severe, and can cause flu epidemics and pandemics.
What does the quadrivalent flu vaccine protect against?
A quadrivalent influenza (flu) vaccine is designed to protect against four different flu viruses, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. Learn more about the vaccine composition for the current flu season vaccines.
When is the influenza season?
While you can catch the flu at any time, it’s more likely to happen in the colder months of the year (April to October).
Are there side effects to the senior flu shot?
High Dose and Adjuvanted Flu Vaccine Side Effects Side effects can include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle ache and malaise, and typically resolve with 1 to 3 days.
When should a senior citizen get a flu shot?
When should I get the influenza vaccine? For best protection against influenza, people aged 65 years and over are strongly advised to get the influenza vaccine every year.
Does Medicare pay for senior flu shot?
Medicare covers one free flu shot each flu season at no cost to you. You can receive a flu shot from any doctor or pharmacy that accepts Medicare. People who are 65 or older are encouraged to get the flu vaccine because seniors are more susceptible to the virus than younger adults.
Are there different flu vaccines for different ages?
adults aged 18 to 64 – there are different types, including low-egg and egg-free ones. adults aged 65 and over – the most common one contains an extra ingredient to help your immune system make a stronger response to the vaccine.
How long does the senior flu vaccine last?
The flu shot offers protection against the flu for at least 6 months. Healthcare professionals usually vaccinate most people in October, when flu activity typically begins to increase, so their immunity will last until the following April.
What does quadrivalent mean?
(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : tetravalent. 2 : composed of four homologous chromosomes synapsed in meiotic prophase.
How contagious is influenza type A?
Contagiousness. Both influenza A and B are highly contagious. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets can enter another person’s nose or mouth, transmitting the illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , flu viruses can infect others from up to 6 feet away.
How did I get influenza A?
These viruses spread when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk, sending droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. You can also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose.
What to do if exposed to influenza A?
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Close Contact (exposure) with flu (influenza) within last 72 hours (3 days) and you are at High Risk of problems from the flu. See High Risk list; such as age more than 64, pregnant, chronic illness. You feel weak or very sick.
What is Type A influenza?
Type A flu or influenza A viruses are capable of infecting animals, although it is more common for people to suffer the ailments associated with this type of flu. Wild birds commonly act as the hosts for this flu virus. Type A flu virus is constantly changing and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics.
Can you get influenza A twice?
The most worrisome part of a double-barreled flu season is that you can get sick twice. Just because you caught a B-strain flu doesn’t mean that you’re immune from the A strains. “There will be the rare person who gets two flu infections in the same season — one with B and one with H1N1,” Schaffner said.
Is the flu and influenza the same thing?
Influenza, also called the flu, is an infection of the upper airway caused by an influenza virus. Symptoms can include fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat or cough. The influenza vaccines protect against the viruses that cause influenza.
Is trivalent or quadrivalent flu vaccine better?
Overall, they found that even though the quadrivalent vaccine provided better protection against the B lineage during four influenza seasons from 2013-2014 to 2016-2017, it did not protect better than the trivalent vaccine against outpatient medical visits for any influenza B illness.
Is there more than one type of flu shot?
These include Afluria Quadrivalent, Fluarix Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, and Fluzone Quadrivalent. Different influenza shots are licensed for different age groups. These four vaccines are approved for people 6 months of age and older. Most influenza shots are given in an arm muscle with a needle.
